4 Acknowledgements The Community Social Planning Council of Toronto would like to acknowledge the following individuals and organizations for their help and contribution on this project: Animators/surveyors/facilitators Jenday Alleyne Crystal Brightly Latoya Dell Chavon Douglas Walied Eldardiry Samantha Greyson Cheryl Hazell Nada Lee Katherine Luong Farid Omar Glendis Ortiz Maryan Osman William Shane Focus group facilitators and notetakers Shakil Ahmed Anisa Ali Fatma Alnadhir Sandra Gonzalez Joy Hun Siham Khalif Vicky Luo Tha-Thien Luong Syeda Nurjahan Anita Virginia Sanchez Helen Xiz Community members/lending space/making connections The Alexandra Park Community Centre Tom Clement Donna Harrow Sherwin Modeste Olu Quamina Don White Israt Ahmed John Campey Zenia Castanos Mary Mastrangelo Diana Mitchell Lauren Rumiel Winston Tinglin Beth Wilson Christopher Wulff We would also like to thank the Alexandra Park Visioning Committee for their guidance and assistance on this project. The Visioning Committee is made up of members from the following stakeholder groups in the Alexandra Park community: Alexandra Park Residents Association Atkinson Housing Cooperative City of Toronto - Office of Councillor Adam Vaughan City of Toronto - Social Development, Finance and Administration Cooperative Housing Federation of Toronto Residents of the Alexandra Park Community Toronto District School Board Trustee Chris Bolton Toronto Community Housing Corporation We would like to acknowledge the Toronto Community Housing Corporation for providing the funding and resources for this project. We also wish to extend our gratitude to the United Way of Greater Toronto and the City of Toronto for their continued funding and ongoing support. Lastly, a very special thank to all the residents of Alexandra Park who participated in our survey and in our focus groups. Your input and continued cooperation are greatly appreciated. 2 What Was Heard: thoughts on revitalizing Alexandra Park December 2008

5 Executive Summary The Alexandra Park neighbourhood, located in the south west corner of downtown Toronto, is home to over 2,000 residents, and consists of both the Atkinson Housing Co-operative and two Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) buildings. It is a culturally diverse community and one in which a majority of the residents live on a fixed income. Recently, through discussions involving the City of Toronto and TCHC, the Alexandra Park community has begun development of a revitalization plan in order to improve conditions in the neighbourhood. The Alexandra Park Visioning Committee, consisting of key stakeholders and neighbourhood residents, was formed to help guide this process. In order to find out what changes Alexandra Park residents wanted to see in their neighbourhood, the Visioning Committee enlisted the help of the Community Social Planning Council of Toronto (CSPC-T) to help conduct a survey of neighbourhood residents and facilitate subsequent focus groups. Resident Survey Residents of the community were hired and trained to conduct the survey and interview their fellow residents. The survey phase began in January of 2008 and ended in May A total of 386 residents participated in the survey, representing nearly 48% of the total number of Alexandra Park households. The following are some of the key survey findings grouped into categories: Neighbourhood Satisfaction 48% of the respondents indicated that in the past two years the neighbourhood has changed for the better. 20.6% said that it had changed for the worse while 31.4% said that it has stayed the same. Overall a majority of respondents were very satisfied with their neighbourhood, saying that it was a good place to live and a good place to raise children. What people enjoyed most about their community was its convenient downtown location with easy access to many services and programs. They also enjoyed the cultural diversity of the neighbourhood, and stated that generally the people in the area were very friendly and willing to help one another. Although residents expressed satisfaction with their neighbourhood, they did however raise many common issues and concerns they felt needed to be promptly addressed. These critical areas of improvement include:»» A general cleanup of the neighbourhood and the creation of more green space»» Residential units need to be renovated and repaired»» The local community centre needs to be expanded, and more programs for children and youth are desired.»» The co-op board needs to better represent the community, effectively respond to their needs, and improve their overall communication and relations with residents.»» Increased safety and security in the neighbourhood and crime reduction are common demands from many residents. However, many residents are also concerned that police and security frequently harass neighbourhood residents, particularly youth. Access to Services & Safety The majority of respondents were very satisfied with their access to public transportation, recreational services, good and services, and community and health services in the neighbourhood. In general, people felt their neighbourhood was a safe place to live. More than half (55%), thought their neighbourhood has been getting more safe over the last few years. However, women respondents (35%) were more likely to report feeling less safe walking alone at night compared to male respondents (14%). December 2008 What Was Heard: Thoughts on revitalizing Alexandra Park 3

6 Connection Among Residents Residents expressed a strong sense of connection with their fellow neighbours. Nearly half (49.5%) reported that they spoke to their neighbours every day or almost every day. A majority of respondents also indicated that people in the neighbourhood generally got along with each other and were willing to help one another if needed. Local Leadership Capacity 61.5% of respondents said that there were people or organizations they could go to for help to solve problems in the community. People identified workers and volunteers at community centres, local community service agencies and organizations, co-op and building management, and family and friends as those they could count on to resolve any neighbourhood problems. Emphasizing their commitment to the community, respondents strongly felt that improving their neighbourhood was not a waste of time. Demonstrating a strong sense of resident empowerment, 65.4% of respondents agreed that residents are capable of solving problems in the neighbourhood on their own. Civic Participation Alexandra Park residents actively participated in their community in some shape or form, from attending community events in the neighbourhood, volunteering their time at a local agency or group, or attending school council meetings. Overall, residents involvement in both the Atkinson Co-op and in the community as a whole had either decreased or remained the same in the past two years. 64% of respondents stated that they would like to become more involved in decision-making and planning in the neighbourhood, yet only 38.9% were willing to join group discussions about the future of the Atkinson Co-op community. Focus groups The second phase of the research process consisted of conducting nine focus groups with specific groups of residents within the Alexandra Park neighbourhood. Individual sessions were held with ethno-specific groups including the Bengali, Cantonese, Mandarin, Somali, Spanish and Vietnamese communities, and targeted demographic groups including youth, seniors, and residents on fixed incomes. These focus groups largely validated the results of the survey, though they did also raise a few other key issues: Participants felt that the negative image of the neighbourhood as an unsafe and dangerous area needed to be improved. Residents expressed their dissatisfaction with building management and the co-op board and suggested developing new ways to enhance community representation, such as the election of neighbourhood block leaders. Resident engagement was often difficult due to cultural differences and language barriers, perpetuating the lack of a sense of community in the neighbourhood. Neighbourhood youth expressed their frustration at the negative perception towards them by their fellow residents. They also reiterated how important the Alexandra Park Community Centre and its staff were to them, as they play a crucial and supportive role in their daily lives. The findings in this report will be used to help guide the Visioning Committee, with continued collaboration with local residents, in developing a community revitalization plan for the Alexandra Park neighbourhood. 4 What Was Heard: thoughts on revitalizing Alexandra Park December 2008

7 Alexandra Park: Background Nestled within the bustling south west corner of downtown Toronto lays the Alexandra Park neighbourhood, a culturally diverse community which is home to over 2,000 residents. Bordered by Spadina Avenue (East), Dundas Street (North), Denison Avenue (West) and Queen Street (South) it is comprised of both the Atkinson Housing Co-operative and two Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) buildings. In total the neighbourhood consists of 806 residential units, geared primarily towards fixed income residents. The Alexandra Park neighbourhood has recently become a focus of attention by the City of Toronto and TCHC as talks of revitalization and redevelopment have trickled their way down to the community level. Due to its prime downtown location, it is seen as an area with a tremendous amount of economic and social development potential that would greatly benefit neighbourhood residents and surrounding areas. While terms like redevelopment and revitalization suggests substantial restructuring and transformation, the community s history has shown that residents are no strangers when it comes to change. Constructed in 1968, the Alexandra Park Housing Project was originally government owned and controlled.* However, in the early 1990s, community residents organized and worked together to convert their government public housing project into a non-profit co-operative in order to become directly involved in internal decisionmaking and improve the quality of life for neighbourhood residents. This resident-based initiative was led by the Alexandra Park Residents Association (APRA) and its president, Sonny Atkinson. In 1994 Alexandra Park Housing was renamed The Atkinson Housing Co-operative in Sonny Atkinson s honour. It was not until 2003 that the final phases of conversion were completed, and the Atkinson Co-op earned the historic distinction of becoming the first public housing project in Canada to become a non-profit tenant-managed cooperative. *CHFT: Creating Co-ops: The Atkinson Co-op Story (n.d.) Retrieved from: December 2008 What Was Heard: Thoughts on revitalizing Alexandra Park 5

8 Alexandra Park: Facts & Figures The following demographic profile uses data collected from the 2006 Canada Census. Statistics Canada geographic boundaries differ slightly from the actual boundaries of the Alexandra Park neighbourhood. As a result, the data presented below are based on residents from the vast majority, but not all, of the Alexandra Park neighbourhood. Population Total population: 2,050 Gender Male: 890 (43%) Female: 1,160 (57%) Residents Families: 470 Persons per family: % are lone-parent families 23% live in non-family households* *Non-family household refers to a single person living alone, or one or more persons sharing a dwelling but not considered a family Age Aged 0-4: 5% Aged 5-19: 30% Aged 20-34: 18% Aged 35-54: 20% Aged 55 and over: 27% Employment (Aged 15+ years) 59% Not in the labour force 36% Employed 4% Unemployed Household Income Average household income: $26,771 Median household income: $19,265 The average age of Alexandra Park s population is 36.9 years old. 45% of households spend 30% or more of their income on shelter Education for population aged % have no certificate, diploma or degree 36% have received a high school certificate 7% have received an apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma 10% have received a college, CEGEP or other nonuniversity certificate, diploma or degree 14% have received a university certificate, diploma or degree Ethno-racial Top five ethno-racial groups: 1. Chinese (42%) 2. Black (30%) 3. South Asian (10%) 4. South East Asian (9%) 5. West Asian (5%) Total percentage of people who speak a non-official language (language other than English or French) at home: 54% Top 5 non-official home languages 1. Chinese (63%) 2. Vietnamese (14%) 3. Bengali (6%) 4. Pashto (3%) 5. Somali (3%) Immigration 64% of population are immigrants 35% are non-immigrants More than 90% of Alexandra Park s total population come from ethnoracial communities 6 What Was Heard: thoughts on revitalizing Alexandra Park December 2008

9 Total immigration population by period of immigration 1971 to 1980: 16% 1981 to 1990: 23% 1991 to 2000: 33% 2000 to 2006: 23% Population 15 years and over by immigration generation status 1st generation: 79% 2nd generation: 15% 3rd generation: 5% Household repairs 26% of occupied dwellings were in need of minor repairs 13% required major repairs Purpose: Neighbourhood Revitalization In early 2007 initial discussions were underway for creating a new vision for the Alexandra Park community. The purpose of these conversations was to find ways in which to improve and revitalize the Alexandra Park neighbourhood, and develop a community plan for the area that would help to create a healthier, sustainable and thriving neighbourhood. In order to help lead and direct this new vision and develop a community plan for revitalization, the Alexandra Park Visioning Committee was formed comprised of various key community stakeholders: The Atkinson Housing Co-operative, The Alexandra Park Community Centre, Toronto Community Housing, City Councillor Adam Vaughan, The Co-operative Housing Federation of Toronto, and local residents. It was established at the outset that the development of a community plan must be a resident driven initiative, one in which local involvement, input and consensus was imperative. In order to assist in finding out how residents felt about their neighbourhood and the kinds of changes they wanted to see in their community, the Visioning Committee enlisted the help of the Community Social Planning Council of Toronto (CSPC-T) to undertake a resident survey. The findings from this survey would be used to help guide the Visioning Committee, TCHC, and the City of Toronto in creating a community plan for revitalization that reflects the needs and wants of the community and its residents. December 2008 What Was Heard: Thoughts on revitalizing Alexandra Park 7

10 Methodology A total of 386 residents participated in our survey; representing nearly 48% of the total number of Alexandra Park households. The survey questionnaire (Appendix A) was modeled on a pre-existing survey that was developed by the United Way Toronto, in collaboration with the Community Social Planning Council of Toronto, and an original survey that was developed by the Alexandra Park Visioning Committee. Together, with the input and assistance from the Visioning Committee, survey questions were modified to make them more appropriate and relevant for the Alexandra Park community. In order to achieve a more in-depth analysis and understanding of the neighbourhood, the questionnaire examines a diverse range of issues that have been divided into six sections: neighbourhood satisfaction, access to services and safety, connection among residents, local leadership capacity, civic participation and demographics. The survey consists of both open-ended and closedended questions. As this was to be a community-driven process and a means to engage residents and help them to develop new skills, local neighbourhood residents were hired to conduct the survey and interview their fellow neighbours. A total of fourteen residents (10 youths and 4 adults) were hired to go door-to-door and administer the survey. These resident researchers were trained by CSPC-T staff on the basic principles of research, how to properly conduct a research interview and accurately record responses, and effective ways to minimize bias and maintain respondent anonymity and confidentiality. In order to ensure that all Alexandra Park households were given equal opportunity to provide their input and be represented in our survey, all 806 residential units in the neighbourhood were included in our study sample. In addition to going door-to-door to conduct interviews, the resident researchers also performed community outreach; helped to publicize the survey, posting flyers throughout the neighbourhood and talking with residents to provide them with information on what the survey was about and encouraging them to participate. The survey was launched at a community meeting on January 26th, 2008 at Ryerson Public School. The surveying process concluded in May Resident researchers were paired up, designated specific areas of the neighbourhood to canvass, and were instructed to attempt to make contact with someone from each household. We asked that one person, aged 18 years and over and who could speak on behalf of the entire household, take part in the survey. Follow-up visits were conducted for those residents who were not at home when initial contact was made. Participants provided verbal consent to participate in the survey. The survey questionnaire was translated into multiple languages and arrangements were made to have interviews conducted in a resident s native language if they were unable to communicate in English. Once the data collection phase was completed the survey data was input and analyzed. A preliminary draft of the survey findings was produced. The initial survey findings were discussed with the Visioning Committee. During the second phase of the research process, nine focus groups were conducted with members of the Alexandra Park community. The focus groups were held to validate survey findings and identify additional issues of concern to the community that did not emerge through the survey process. The Visioning Committee identified several groups that they wanted to hear from during this phase of the research. Focus groups were organized for specific ethnoracial communities and demographic groups including: members of Bengali, Cantonese, Mandarin, Somali, Spanish and Vietnamese communities, youth years old, seniors and residents on fixed incomes. Community notices were posted around the neighbourhood asking people from these communities and groups to participate in focus group discussions. Local residents were again hired to act as facilitators and notetakers where availability and scheduling permitted. Focus groups were held in the first language of each ethno-specific community and in English for the youth, seniors and residents on fixed incomes groups. Focus groups were held during the months of July and September What Was Heard: thoughts on revitalizing Alexandra Park December 2008

11 Survey and Focus Group Analysis Survey responses were analyzed using standard statistical methods. Focus group notes were reviewed and major themes were identified. With respect to survey results, response rates differ from question to question. As the survey was voluntary and residents were free to refuse to answer any questions, not all respondents answered every applicable question. Specifically, questions of a sensitive nature such as those pertaining to household income had a slightly lower response rate. Note that some questions were only asked of some residents. For example, some questions were only asked of residents who had lived in the neighbourhood for two years or more. In the results section, the notation n refers to how many residents answered a specific question. Some percentages do not total 100% due to rounding. Survey Results: Demographics Gender Country of Birth % n=376 FEMALE 67.8% MALE 32.2% Canada 35.4 East Asia 20.1 Other 8.9 Europe 7.8 Caribbean & Bermuda 6.5 Southeast Asia 4.9 Central or South America 4.4 South Asia 4.2 Age Distribution % 18 to to to to to to Central Africa 2.1 Southern Africa 1.8 West Central Asia & Middle East 1.6 United States 1.3 Northern Africa 1.0 n = 384 Other: East Africa (6%), Central Asia (2.6%) 70 to and older 8.6 n=373 December 2008 What Was Heard: Thoughts on revitalizing Alexandra Park 9

12 Language Spoken at Home % English 56.1 Chinese/Cantonese/Mandarin 19.7 Somali 5.2 Average Length of Residency in Canada Range 20.6 years From 3 years to 97 years n = 231 Other 4.6 Vietnamese 3.8 Spanish 3.5 Portuguese 1.4 Arabic 1.2 Dari 0.9 Farsi 0.9 French 0.9 Pashto 0.9 Hindi 0.3 Italian 0.3 Punjabi 0.3 Urdu 0.3 n=346 Highest Level of Education Attained % No formal schooling 5.1 Some elementary school 5.3 Elementary school diploma 6.4 Some secondary (high) school 13.9 Secondary (high) school diploma or 28.8 certificate Registered apprenticeship or trades 2.9 certification or diploma College, CEGEP, or other non-university 19.7 certificate diploma University degree, certificate, or diploma 17.3 Household Composition: Gender Sum Total household males 371 Total household females 385 n = 251 Marital Status % Single, never married 38.7 Married 26.3 Widowed 11.8 Divorced 11.0 Separated 8.6 Living common-law 3.5 n = 372 Household Composition % A lone parent with one or more children 32.0 A single individual living alone 30.9 A couple with one or more children 24.5 More than one family living together 4.3 A couple with no children 3.7 Two or more unrelated individuals living 3.5 together Other 1.1 n = 375 Other 0.5 n = What Was Heard: thoughts on revitalizing Alexandra Park December 2008

13 Household Composition: Household Members by Age Main Source of Household Income % Number of Household Members Employment or self-employment (wages, 44.8 salaries, commission, tips) Social Assistance or welfare (OW, ODSP) 22.0 Benefits from Canada Pension Plan 17.3 Retirement pensions 7.5 Basic Old Age Security 2.3 Other income (e.g. rental income, 2.0 scholarship, other government income, stocks, mutual funds, etc) No income 1.7 Employment insurance 1.2 Workers compensation 0.6 Guaranteed Income Supplement or Spouse s 0.3 Allowance Child support/ Alimony 0.3 n = 346 n=247 Age Total Household Income Percentage of Respondents % 47.0% 18.2% 9.5% 2.7% 4.4% 0 Less than 10,000 10,000 to 19,000 20,000 to 29,000 30,000 to 39,000 40,000 to 49,000 50,000+ n=296 Income in dollars December 2008 What Was Heard: Thoughts on revitalizing Alexandra Park 11

14 Survey Results Section 1 Neighbourhood Satisfaction In order to establish the overall level of satisfaction with the neighbourhood, we asked residents to tell us how long they have lived in the Alexandra Park community, their feelings towards the neighbourhood, what changes they have noticed in the past two years, and how long they expected to continue living in the neighbourhood. Length of Residency The average length of residency in the Alexandra Park neighbourhood is 11.1 years. Residency ranged from less than one year to 45 years. (n=379) Change in the Neighbourhood In the past two years, would you say the Alexandra Park community has: Changed for the better 48% Changed for the worse 20.6% Improvements of infrastructure, more youth involvement, reduction of violence Better security, more cameras and more work being done More people are involved with things and people are starting to view youth as part of the change More community events Painted the walls, cleaner areas (hallways, elevators) Basketball court and playground 20.6% of respondents however felt that their community had changed for the worse. These feelings revolved primarily around issues regarding perceptions of a lack of safety and security, an increase in criminal activity, and allegations of police harassment of neighbourhood residents. Other respondents felt that there has been a decrease in the amount of services that are being provided in the neighbourhood, that building and property maintenance has not been satisfactory, and that there was a lack of communication between board/ management and residents. Stayed about the same 31.4% n=306 Nearly half (48%) of respondents stated that in the past two years, the Alexandra Park community has changed for the better. When asked what positive changes they have noticed in the past two years, many indicated that they have seen improvements in four main areas: maintenance of buildings and or units, increased cleanliness of the area, more security and a reduction of criminal activity, and finally, more programs and activities for residents. WHAT YOU SAID Changed for the better Less gangs and drugs, new improvements to units WHAT YOU SAID Changed for the worse More crime, drugs and violence A lot of services and programs are no longer available here anymore. There are no youth, adult and senior programs, there are no night classes/ programs. No information regarding the children s act, no legal knowledge. No programs/ seminars with a lawyer to help residents with legal issues/ problems. Senior programs to help them out, no notices to make them aware of services being offered. No religious services/ meetings for different background residents Police treatment has become a lot worse Co-op not telling us any updates Dirty garbage all over 12 What Was Heard: thoughts on revitalizing Alexandra Park December 2008

15 There used to be many services offered to us but now I find that they have lessened a lot. For example, they used to do checkups once or twice a year and ask if there are anything that needs fixing but now things like this never happens; now it takes a very long time for them to fix anything. I end up having to fix the problems myself with my expenses and it s not that cheap Finally, 31.4% of respondents felt that their neighbourhood has pretty much stayed the same over the past two years. Statements made by residents indicate that these feelings are either positive or negative, reflecting their overall satisfaction with the neighbourhood. My neighbourhood is a good place to live Percentage of Respondents n=377 Disagree Neither agree nor disagree Agree WHAT YOU SAID Stayed the Same There might be some changes here and there but it s about the same. They ve done renovations like painted the doors, new elevators, new main entry doors, but not much Residents are helpful to each other and all actively participate in all community events Generally most things have not changed. The area still looks the same and there is still a high level of crimes occuring The problems were always here just that people weren t aware of them No complaints, many projects done but everything same. Nobody cares so everything same Despite the various issues that residents felt needed to be addressed, an overwhelming majority of respondents still felt that the Alexandra Park neighbourhod was a good place to live and to raise children. My neighbourhood is a good place to raise children Percentage of Respondents n=332 Disagree Neither agree nor disagree Agree Residents were then asked to name one thing that they liked and one thing they disliked about the Alexandra Park community. A majority of residents indicated that what they liked most was the convenient location of living downtown, with easy access to many services such as public transportation, a wide assortment of retail stores, schools, community centre, and the availability of community social programs. Respondents also expressed positive feelings in regards to their connection towards other residents living in the community, stating that it was a culturally diverse and friendly neighbourhood where people are willing to work together and help one another. When asked to name something they disliked about the Alexandra Park community, resident responses varied, however, some previously identified issues reemerged. These issues include: safety and security, building and grounds maintenance, cleanliness, lack of social programs and community events for residents and their families, and negative opinions towards the co-op management. December 2008 What Was Heard: Thoughts on revitalizing Alexandra Park 13

16 WHAT YOU SAID Thoughts on the Neighbourhood LIKES It s convenient. Shopping is close, transportation is close to There is a centre for children, programs afterschool Everything is close by. It s close to the food bank My doctor s office is very close by and there s also a doctor once a week downstairs if I can t go out to my doctor Everybody knows each other, school is close by, teachers are involved with kids, neighbours watch kids, park for kids to play People like Olu, Walied and Coach John [from the community centre] are doing good things by helping our kids. We should all support them The community is very diverse with different cultures and religions, however they can adapt and live with each other It s very family oriented DISLIKES No programs to allow or get parents more involved with the community. Nothing for youth as well. Parents don t have or cannot get the services or resources to get the help needed The neighbourhood does not look nice, it s dull and dark It s not safe around here and security is not enough. There is always homeless people sleeping in the stairways, close to the entrances and exits. They would smoke and throw the butts around and go to the washroom in the buildings too Police in the area do not investigate what is happening. We are terrified of police, they harass our people, they always accuse our youth. They criminalize our young people. I don t want to open my door to police, they treat Black people badly The houses are too old. There are many maintenance problems. It takes the community service a very long time to fix problems in the house Need to have more events to get the community involved There s no communication about the board Areas for Improvement Residents were asked to name two things that were needed to improve their neighbourhood. Although many residents felt very satisfied with their neighbourhood, they did raise several critical issues and concerns during the course of the survey that they felt needed to be promptly addressed and that were vital in improving the quality of life the community. The following tables highlight the most prevalent themes along with some specific statements made by respondents. These tables also help summarize the common issues that have been brought up thus far. Themes are not presented in any particular order or by frequency of responses. Safety & Security Issues around safety and security were frequently mentioned as being a concern for many residents. People felt that there needed to be an increase in security (police patrols, guards, cameras) due to criminal activity, vagrancy, and drug trafficking in the neighbourhood. Some also expressed concern that police were too frequently harassing residents in the community, suggesting that relations between security and residents needed to be ameliorated. Responses included: Better security. Too much crime We have more police patrols now; we need more of this because the drugs people are still around. Parents should take responsibility, those caught with drugs should be kicked out from housing Security needs to stop harassing Security. I see lots of strangers in and out of the building. I m scared to go out at night Cleanliness & Neighbourhood Beautification Many residents felt that the neighbourhood needed to be cleaned up of the garbage, litter, dog waste, and graffiti and that effort should be made to help make the community greener and esthetically pleasing with more 14 What Was Heard: thoughts on revitalizing Alexandra Park December 2008

17 trees, gardens, flowers and parks. Responses included: Make the community look nice, with gardening, nicer homes Garbage in backyards, people throwing things in other people s backyards Roads are dirty, parks need to be cleaner We should build more parks Add plants and flowers It s dirty, garbage needs to be better arranged. I always see people s garbage everywhere, on the streets etc. Building/Unit & Physical Improvements Respondents indicated that many of their housing units were in dire need of maintenance and repairs. This includes painting, new appliances and better laundry facilities, electrical wiring, roofing, and dealing with bug/ mice infestations. Physically, outdoor improvements such as better visitor s parking, fence repairs, and more lighting of pathways were brought up. Responses included: The pathways need to be smoother for children to ride bikes and play Less process to go through for getting small things fixed Maintenance needs more improvements. I reported two problems so long ago, and still nothing has yet to be done Fix the holes in the walls because there are so much mice running around the apartment. I can t even sleep at night. I reported the problem, but they haven t done anything about it Laundry mat in the building is very bad. Need better machines, those ones are too old The layout and access to the community, differently connected Co-op Board Management Some residents also expressed their dissatisfaction with the co-op management and board of directors. They thought that management needed to become better organized and that new board members are needed to better represent and work for the community. Responses included: Office needs to get organized Stronger board members that care about the place, and not only about their units Change the board Management should be improved The board needs better representation Community Social Services/ Programs and Events Although residents stated that living downtown allowed them to have easy access to various social services and programs, many felt that certain services were lacking, most notably recreational programs, or programs geared specifically towards children and youth. Since the Alexandra Park Community Centre plays an important role in the community, many felt that it should be expanded and improved, allowing for more programs to be offered. Responses included: Programs for the youth, after school programs, help for school drop outs More facilities in the park needed, such as senior exercise tools, and more community support and social support On site nurse for the buildings (seniors) We need a health centre in the co-op More programs for youth. Also mothers need recreation programs More community events like BBQs More programs for the community centre so residents can benefit The only thing I feel we need is day to day care and checkups because you don t know what would happen since we are all very old people and some with many health problems December 2008 What Was Heard: Thoughts on revitalizing Alexandra Park 15

18 Physical Improvements In terms of physical or infrastructure improvements, residents felt that the maintenance, upkeep and upgrading of existing residential buildings and units was very important, along with the construction of additional housing units. Aging buildings and houses has resulted in the need for major and minor repairs (i.e. windows, flooring, elevators, growing mold, etc) throughout the neighbourhood. Respondents also identified the need for improvement in regards to parking, especially visitors parking. Residents stated that the neighbourhood needed to be cleaned up of garbage and graffiti and more green space be created to make it more visually appealing. Finally, the need for more outdoor recreational facilities and improvements to the Alexandra Park Community Centre was frequently cited. WHAT YOU SAID About Physical Improvements More colour to identify the community. Better physical appeal More playgrounds and swimming pools for the kids during the summer New houses- only if the residents can move back in The community centre needs to be bigger, so that it can accommodate the number of residents in the community More flowers around the area, less bricks and concrete. More plants would make the place more appealing New buildings would be good to see because the buildings are old. They should change the stove, toilets, etc. because they are very old and dirty and impossible to clean. If they change one thing I think they should change everything else Expected Tenure When asked how long they would continue to live in the Alexandra Park neighbourhood, nearly 77% of respondents stated that they planned to stay for many more years, while 7.6% said they would move as soon as possible. When asked the reasons for their continued residency, residents responses varied. Many wanted to stay because they enjoyed living in the neighbourhood due to its convenient downtown location with easy access to various services, such as shops or schools for their children. Some indicated that affordability was the deciding factor, or that they had already been living there for such a long time and did not want to relocate. Others stated that they had little other choice but to stay due to personal circumstances. Those who planned on moving from the neighbourhood, answered that either they were eager to find a bigger place to live to accommodate their family, that they just wanted to move to a different part of the city, or because they were generally dissatisfied with the neighbourhood. WHAT YOU SAID About Staying & Moving PLAN ON STAYING Rent is affordable and its downtown I know my neighbours and the community is a good place to live. I am a single mom with 5 kids so school is nearby and area is nice I was born here, my family has lived here for many years. Don t have money to move I hope to live here until I get very old PLAN ON MOVING The house is too small for my family Want another environment So my kids can have a better future 16 What Was Heard: thoughts on revitalizing Alexandra Park December 2008

19 How long do you expect to be living in Alexandra Park? 7.6% 15.5% Will move as soon as possible Will stay 1-3 more years 76.9% Will stay for many more years n=290 Section 2 Access to Services & Safety As mentioned earlier, what Alexandra Park residents enjoyed most about the neighbourhood was its convenient downtown location, allowing people to easily access a variety of programs and services. These sentiments are once again reflected in the survey results when respondents were asked how satisfied they were with access to health care, community services, business and retail, recreation services and public transportation. While levels of satisfaction are very high, some respondents however stated that there was some room for improvement in certain areas: Health: Residents wanted to see more doctors, dentists, and walk-in clinics. Some even suggested an on-site community nurse. Community services: Residents wanted to have more daycare spaces available in the community, along with services geared specifically for youth, such as a youth drop-in centre or homework club. Others mentioned the need for job and computer training programs and employment services. Relative to other places in Toronto, do you think this neighbourhood is: 64.1% 15.5% 9.7% More Safe Less Safe About the Same n=329 Over the last few years, do you think the neighbourhood has been getting: 55.0% 21.2% More Safe Less Safe Goods and services: A common demand from residents was for the development of a large supermarket (i.e. No Frills, Price Choppers, Food Basics, etc) in the area that was easily accessible. 23.8% About the Same n=311 December 2008 What Was Heard: Thoughts on revitalizing Alexandra Park 17

20 Recreational services: Respondents expressed a greater need for more outdoor recreational facilities such as swimming pools, parks and playgrounds. They also felt that the local community centre should be expanded and include a gym or fitness room and provide more organized recreational activities for residents. Safety: Although issues around safety and criminal activity in the neighbourhood were concerns raised by many participants in earlier questions, a majority of residents, nonetheless, felt that their neighbourhood was a relatively safe place to live. When analyzed according to gender, however, 35% of women respondents reported feeling less safe walking alone at night compared to only 14% of men. How safe do you feel walking alone at night? Percentage of Respondents % 21.4% 12.1% 29.9% 29.9% 0 n=365 Very Unsafe Somewhat Unsafe Neither Unsafe Nor Safe Somewhat Safe Very Safe Access to Services Agree Neither agree nor disagree Disagree Public transportation in my neighbourhood is convenient There are enough recreational services in my neighbourhood to meet my needs I can always find the goods and services I need to buy in my neighbourhood I can always get the community services I need in my neighbourhood I can always get the health services I need in my neighbourhood n ranges from 354 to Percentage of Respondents 18 What Was Heard: thoughts on revitalizing Alexandra Park December 2008

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